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Utilization of coconut shell carbon in the anode compartment of microbial desalination cell (MDC) for enhanced desalination and bio-electricity production

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Title Utilization of coconut shell carbon in the anode compartment of microbial desalination cell (MDC) for enhanced desalination and bio-electricity production
 
Creator Sophia, Carmalin A
Bhalambaal, V M
 
Subject Environmental Biotechnology
Biochemistry
Water Treatment
 
Description Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is an emerging bio-electrochemical system. This is considered as one of
the promising technologies for clean water and energy production. MDC technology is a derivative of the
microbial fuel cell (MFC). This study reports bench-scale laboratory desalination using MDC loaded with
granular coconut shell carbon, as a new electrode material in the anode compartment. Control
experiments were performed without granular coconut shell carbon to evaluate the effect of carbon. Two
different initial salt concentrations (20,000 and 30,000 mg L�1) were investigated. The experimental
MDC (with carbon) for an initial concentration of 20,000 mg L�1 NaCl, produced the highest voltage of
461
�9 mV at the same time removing about 84.2% of sodium and 58.25% of chloride in a single
desalination cycle. The control MDC (without carbon) at the same time produced 261 mV and 68.2%
removal of sodium and 50.7% removal of chloride. The SEM analysis of the bio-film showed meager
coverage of rod shaped microorganisms and molecular pili (nanowires) structure. In the current study,
nanowires as observed in SEM may be the potential electron transfer pathways. These results
demonstrate for the
first time the possibility of using activated carbon from a biomass waste, as electrode
material for enhanced water desalination and power production in a MDC.
 
Publisher Elsevier
 
Date 2015-10-27
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://neeri.csircentral.net/566/1/1-s2.0-S2213343715300269-jece%20main.pdf
Sophia, Carmalin A and Bhalambaal, V M (2015) Utilization of coconut shell carbon in the anode compartment of microbial desalination cell (MDC) for enhanced desalination and bio-electricity production. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 3 (4 P-A). pp. 2768-2776. ISSN 2213-3437
 
Relation http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343715300269
http://neeri.csircentral.net/566/